Due to the coronavirus pandemic, GCSE results have taken a different turn, and grades will be given by teachers rather than through an exam.
Usually, GCSE exams are taken to determine the student's grade, these are marked and an overall grade is given.
However, this year both GCSE and A-levels exams were dismissed due to the pandemic which left students taking time off school.
It was felt unfair for students to take these exams when their school learning had been so disrupted due to the pandemic.
Instead, this year students were graded on their overall performance in class, mock exams predicted grades and essays.
The student's performance was only graded during their time in school which was not disrupted by the pandemic.
Students were told what evidence would be used to determine their grades, therefore giving them the opportunity to discuss any concerns they may have with this.
This system has been used in all four nations England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland for this year’s GCSE results.
This was monitored and graded by the teachers before being moderated internally and signed off by the Head of Departments for each subject.
Headteachers were also required to submit a personal declaration stating that they believe the grades given to be fair and accurate.
Schools were also asked by the exam boards as part of a quality assurance (QA) check to provide examples of some of the student's work and evidence used to determine the grades given.
All grades were submitted to the exam board by June 18 so QA checks could be carried out in plenty of time.
Some targeted and random checks of evidence were also carried out after grades were submitted.
In some cases, if the evidence did not support the grade given, schools were asked to review their grades and resubmit if changed.
Results have been released earlier than usual to ensure students have plenty of time to appeal any results they deem to be incorrect.
New grading scheme
GCSEs grades now use a new grade number system to determine their overall mark.
Rather than A, B, C, etc, grades are now given as numbers, this is called the 9-1 grading scheme.
The highest grade is 9 and the lowest is 1, which doesn't include U (ungraded).
The top number grades are 9, 8, and 7 which achieve an A* or A.
Students achieving a standard pass would receive a 4 and a strong pass would be a 5.
Here’s the new grade scheme explained:
Can you appeal?
Students who aren't happy with their grades can appeal to the school.
However, it's important to be aware this can lead to your grade being raised, but also lowered.
If you still want to go through the appeals processes, the school will look into whether an administrative error was made.
If no administrative error was made and you want to go further with the claim you can appeal to the exam board.
If, after both these processes, you still disagree will the decision, you can apply to have your case referred to Ofqual’s Exams Procedure Review Service (EPRS).
The EPRS will investigate to see whether the exam board has made a procedural error, but if they haven't the decision will still stand.
The deadline for appeals is Friday, September 17 or Monday, August 23 for priority appeals.
